Q. First off, I really love the column. It usually answers my questions before I even have the chance.
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I'm just finishing up an internship at a major metropolitan daily, and I'm getting my clip-file ready. One of my colleagues recently said that even if an application asks for six clips, it's all right to turn in four if I feel like I only have four stellar ones. He said to only turn in the best of the best.
This colleague said that including a couple average clips could water down a recruiter's image of me, but I'm not sure what to do. I have four or five clips that I'm amazingly proud of, and then a number of other ones that I think are quite good, but aren't big centerpieces. I like some of those clips, though, because they show different aspects of my writing.
Thanks,
Confused about clipsA. Six work samples is a minimal request. Meet it.
No two editors are exactly alike, so shorting them will strike them in different ways. You are close enough to having the required number, though, so I would try to meet it. Quality counts, but it also comes in many different forms: writing, reporting, hustling on deadline.
I would hate to see your application get tossed by an editor who grumps that you don't know how to follow instructions.
Coming Thursday: He is seeing signs of trouble in his newspaper and wonders if it is time to bail.
